Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-27
PENINSULA PATRONS.
EFFORTS TO BRING THEM IN CLOSER
CONNECTION WITH RICHMOND.
Proposed Telephone Line to Old Point
Lower Telegraph Rates Secured
State Tar on Merchants.

Directors Of tie Chamber Of Commerce
was held yesterday evening. Present
George A. Ainslie (president) and
Messrs. Henry Bodeker, o. l.. Cot
treu, s. II. Hawes, r. L. Williams,
and Clay Drewry.
Excuses were made for the absence
Of Messrs. George l.. Christian. j. II.
Whitty, Il. A. Dunlop, Ashton Starke,
a. II. Christian, Jr., and n. W. Bowe.
Messrs. r. II. Whitlock, Isaac Tow
er, and Thomas Christian, special
committee appointed to investigate and
report upon the feasibility of establish
ing telephone line between Richmond
and Fortress Monroe and intermediate
stations, submitted the following:
Your committee, TO whom was referred the
subject Of telephone communication with po-
nnsula points, beg 10 report that they have
not accomplished so favorable an arrangement
with the telephone companies as are given at
North. for the reason that our sparse popuia-
ton does not afford the business TO induce the
company 70 grant such terms. However, we
have practically arrived at tho same result by
arrangement with the NewpOrts-News and
10 have meesages sent and delivered 10 and
ircm peninsula points for fifteen cents for fif-
teen words and one cent for each edditional
word. II the merchants viii have their own
cyIher Keys and use diligence TO recover the
trade Of these points We are persuaded that
passengers and freight will have all the con
sideration that the Newports-News and Missis-
sippi-Nalley Company can grant. Horewith
please find letters Of railroad company and
Southern Bell Telephone Company which Will
speak Tor themselves. Your committee ask TO
be discharged.
AS TO TELEPHONE.
With this report were several COM
municationsfrom Mr.. Leonard, superin-
tendent of the Newport-News and Mis-
sissippi-Valley Company's telegraph
line, and Mr. McCluer, manager of the
telephone line here.
The railroad company offered the
use of their poles upon very fair terms,
but Mr.. McCluer asked (and it was
thought not unreasonable for guaran-
tee fund of g, 600 ; same to be returned
to the subscribers in coupons good in
payment Of fees for telephone tolls :;
S3,OO0to be paid the first year 1.-THE other
81, in two years.
LOWER TELEGRAPH RATES.
The following letter is about the new
telegraph rate referred to:
OFFICE or THE SUPERINTENDENT TELEGRAPH,l
RICHMOND, Va, April 70. 1887. :
Htsss. n. IT, WhiaOek, Thomas Christian, Gnd
l. 5. 7oVer, Committee, Richmond, Va:
GentIemen.-Referring 10 my letter Of the
18th instant with reference 20 n reduction of
rates In our telegraph business between Rich
mond and points on the Peninsula, under
stood from my conversation with Mr. WhitlOrk
this morning that what is specially desired u
not 30 much low telegraph rates from all points
east OF Richmond a. It Is reduced rates between
Richmond and Newport News. Hampton. and
Fortress Monroe. Such being the case, and IN
view Of the increased amount Of revenue that
this company would derive In the handling OF
freight and passengers from a closer CONNER
cial unien between those three points and
Richmond. I am authorized by General Wick
ham 10 state that, commencing May lst, We VIII
mako our rate between Richmond and Hamp-
ton and Newport News fifteen cents for fifteen
words and one cent for each extra word over
the fifteen the minimum rate for any mes
cage 20 be fifteen cents. For tho present we
will allow the nfteen-cent rate between Rich
mond and Fortress Monroe for ten words 70
continue. IL IA probable that when we estah-
lish our own Independent onice az Fortress
Monroe W shall allow this rate 10 apply 10 the
ffteen-word maximum rate.
Ilease advise me II this arrangement viii be
acceptable, 80 that necessary instructions can
be given concerning the matter.
Yours very truly, NJ. b. LEONARD.
superintendent Telegraph.
On motion of Alr. Bodeker, the Offer
of the railway company was accepted,
and as to the telephone the subject was
continued in the hands of the commit
tee for further report.
TAX oN MERCHANTS.
Mr.. Robert II. WhitlOck, from the
Committee on Information and Stats
tics, submitted the following, which
was adopted:
Your committee. To whom was referred the
subject Of the merchants license tax, beg 10
report the following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas wide difference OF opinion exists
as TO what constitutes capital employed in any
business, II would. In the judgment OF this
committee, be impossible for them to frame
and secure the passage OF such bill al the
present special session Of the Legislature as
would meet with the approval OF the Irer-
chauts, and be In time 10 afford any relief this
year: therefore.
Resolred, That this Chamber Of Commerce
approve Of the preamble and resolutions OF
The Chamber Of Commerce OF stauntos except
as 20 tiue) accompanying this report.
.. RcsOired. That the chambers OF commerce
or boards Of trade throughout the State are re-
quested 10 send 10 this chamber answers 70 the
following questions:
What. In your judgment, constitutes capital:
How do you arrive at III
What general rule would you suggest for as
certaining the capital In every business,
whether owned I'm whole or In part, or borrowed
in whole or part or buying oncredit entirely7
Colonel Palmer, member of the
Coast Line, was elected a member of
the chamber.